Parking At Reston Town Center Key To 'Life, Liberty, And Pursuit Of Happiness:' Court

RESTON, VA — There's an interesting side note to the recent ruling from the Fairfax County Circuit Court that Boston Properties couldn't charge customers of Jackson's Mighty Find Food & Lucky Lounge at Reston Town Center. The court states that Boston Properties agreed that parking rights are believed to be "necessary to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

That phrase -- life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness -- is probably the most famous line from the Declaration of Independence describing mankind's three "unalienable rights." Of course, it's doubtful the founders ever imagined it applying to a parking dispute at a shopping center in a D.C. suburb.

Jackson's was granted a preliminary injunction against the ParkRTC system recently after the court decided their lease placed the burden squarely on Boston Properties to provide free parking to customers of the restaurant.

"Parking rights are, as Boston Properties acknowledged, believed by many as an inherent right necessary to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," the court's decision states. "The recognition of Jackson's rights to enforce the Lease is about more than promoting an outdated belief and suburban angst. A business's inability to meet the parking needs of its customers can cause irreparable harm."

Image via Flickr user Payton Chung